Program Officer, Ending Pandemics Academy

The Program Officer will support the Ending Pandemics Academy at the Global Health Institute of the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health in advancing key programmatic initiatives focused on the early detection of emerging disease threats and strengthening global health surveillance systems. This role will manage relationships with key partners and support a portfolio of projects spanning participatory surveillance, global health metrics, and collaborative global innovation initiatives. Working closely with the Ending Pandemics (EP) Academy leadership, the Program Officer will help drive program deliverables, plan and execute events, coordinate partnerships, and support implementation of projects that generate tangible outcomes aligned with the mission of the Ending Pandemics Academy. The Program Officer will also contribute to project monitoring and evaluation activities that demonstrate the impact of the Ending Pandemics Academy's work.

A central responsibility of this role will be coordinating the planning and execution of EpiHack ARIZONA, a multi-sector innovation event that brings together technologists, public health experts, and community stakeholders to develop digital tools for early disease detection. Following the event, the Program Officer will support the coordination and advancement of prototype development, working with EP Academy leadership, technical partners, and participating technologists to refine concepts, facilitate collaboration, and advance prototypes toward implementation.

This position is based in Tucson, Arizona and requires regular in-person presence at the University of Arizona at the Mabel House, the headquarters of the Ending Pandemics Academy; it is not a remote position.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Program and Project Management:

• Manage and support a portfolio of Ending Pandemics Academy projects and initiatives.
• Track project milestones, deliverables, and timelines across multiple initiatives to ensure successful program implementation.
• Coordinate activities among internal teams, students, partners, and collaborators to advance program objectives.
• Support monitoring and evaluation of Academy initiatives, including collecting and analyzing data to assess program outcomes and impact.

Event Coordination and Innovation Management:

• Coordinate logistics, stakeholder engagement, and participant management for EpiHack ARIZONA and future events, including communications, scheduling, and coordination with facilitators, technical mentors, and partner organizations.
• Support planning and implementation of event activities, including team formation, challenge definition, and facilitation of collaborative innovation processes.
• Coordinate post-EpiHack prototype development, working with participating teams, EP Academy leadership, and technical partners to refine concepts and advance solutions developed during the event.
• Track prototype progress following the event and facilitate connections with partners, mentors, and technical experts to support further development and potential implementation.
• Assist in documenting outcomes from the EpiHack process and future events including lessons learned.

Partnerships and External Engagement:

• Support collaboration with partners engaged in community-based participatory surveillance initiatives and help convene the community of practice to share knowledge, tools, and best practices.
• Facilitate communication among stakeholders involved in Ending Pandemics Academy initiatives.
• Maintain strong working relationships with key partners including academic institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations.

Administrative and Operational Support:

• Provide administrative support for program activities including coordination of meetings, scheduling, documentation, and record keeping.
• Support financial and operational tasks such as expense tracking, reimbursements, procurement coordination, and documentation related to grants and contracts.
• Assist with event logistics including travel coordination, participant communications, and meeting materials preparation.
• Maintain organized program documentation and support internal reporting requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent research and analytical skills; strong knowledge of quantitative methods, data analysis, and big data.
• Strong working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Asana, and Google Suite.
• Ability to be Independent and self-motivated, able to take initiative in an entrepreneurial environment within a small team.
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment and provide excellent interpersonal skills with a positive attitude.
• Ability to handle highly confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to multi-task, work with multi-stakeholders, maintain exceptional attention to detail, and proactively manage project timelines and deliverables.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• 3 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

• Willingness to work with remote partners, with limited opportunities for travel.
• Experience publishing for peer-review preferred.
• Master's degree in Public Health or a related discipline strongly preferred.
• 1-2 years of relevant work experience and sectoral expertise is desired.
• Foundational knowledge of public health, animal health, and disease surveillance.
• Demonstrated experience working with and communicating science to non-technical audiences; excellent written, verbal skills.
• Consensus builder who is tactful in interactions with partners and grantees.
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams.